2beta, 19-epoxy-3alpha-halo-5alpha-androstan-17-ones and derivatives thereof



United States Patent No Drawing. Filed July 9, 1963, Ser. No. 293,839 12 Claims. (Cl. 260-23955) The present invention is concerned with novel steroids of the androstane series, characterized by a 25,19-epoxy structure, and, more particularly, with 2B,19-epoxy-3ahalo-5a-androstan-17-ones and the corresponding option ally Hot-(aliphatic hydrocarbon) substituted 17fl-ols together with the 17-(1ower alkanoates) thereof. These compounds can be represented by the following structural formulas wherein X is a halogen characterized by an atomic weight of less than 100, Y can be hydrogen or a lower alkanoyl radical, and Z symbolizes hydrogen or a lower aliphatic hydrocarbon radical.

Examples of lower alkanoyl radicals depicted in the foregoing structural representation are acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, valeryl, caproyl. and the branched-chain groups isomeric therewith. The lower aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals represented by Z in that structural formula are specifically illustrated by methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, secondary-butyl, hexyl, ethynyl, vinyl, propynyl, butenyl, hexynyl, hexenyl, and the corresponding branched-chain isomeric groups. The halogens contempated by the X term are fluorine, chlorine, and bromine.

Suitable as starting materials for the manufacture of the compounds of the present invention are those 3a-halo- Zfl-hydroxy compounds represented by the structural formulas and 3,165,553 Patented Jan. 19, 1965 0 J- (lower allryl) wherein X is indicative of a halogen of atomic weight less than and Z is hydrogen or a lower aliphatic hydrocarbon radical. Their manufacture is described in US. Patent 3,018,298, issued on January 23, 1962. Oxidation of those halohydrins with a suitable reagent such as lead tetraacetate, lead tetraacetate with iodine, mercuric acetate with iodine, or silver acetate with iodine in a suitable inert organic solvent such as carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, methylene chloride, benzene, toluene, xylene, etc., affords the corresponding 2,8-19-epoxy derivatives. A specific example of that process is the reaction of 3abromo 213-hydroxy-5a-androstan-17-one in carbon tetrachloride with lead tetraacetate and iodine, resulting in 3amemo-2 8,19-epoxy-5a-androstan-17-one. imilarly, the reaction of 3a-bromo-5a-androstane-2,17,8-diol 17acetate with that reagent results in 3m-bromo-2fl,19-epoxy-5o-androstan 17,8-01 17-acetate.

The 17-hydroxy compounds of this invention can be prepared alternatively by reduction of the corresponding 17-ones. Suitable reagents for this purpose are sodium borohydride, lithium aluminum hydride, and lithium tri- (tertiary-butoxy) aluminum hydride. The aforementioned 3a-bromo-2B,19-epoxy-5a-androstan-17-one, as a specific illustration, is contacted with sodium borohydride in ethanol at room temperature, and the resulting product is isolated to afford 3ot-bromo-2fi,19-epoxy-5a-androstan- -01. Esterification of the instant 17-hydroxy derivatives with a suitable acylating agent, i.e., a lower alkanoic acid anhydride or halide, in the presence of an alkaline catalyst such as pyridine or triethylamine, provides an alternate route to the 17/3-hydroxy 17-(lower alkanoates) herein described. Acylation of 3u-bromo-2fi,l9-epoxy-5uandrostan-UB-ol, for example, with acetic anhydride in pyridine affords 3u-bromo-2fi,19-epoxy-5a-androstan-17(3- ol 17-acetate.

The instant derivatives possessing a lower aliphatic hydrocarbon substituent at the 17-position can be obtained also by reaction of the aforementioned 17-ones with the appropriate organometallic reagent. The use of alkyl Grignard reagents or lithium alkyls, for example, produces the corresponding 17d-(1OWCI alkyl)-17fl-ols. Typically, 3ot-bromo-2B,l9-epoxy-5a-androstan-17-one in ether solution is heated with ethereal methyl magnesium bromide to produce 3a-bromo-2 8,1'9-epoxy-l7a-methyl- 5a-androstan-l7 3-ol. When a lithium alkynylide is the organometallic reagent, the instant 17ot-alkylnyl-17p-ols are produced. The latter 17-one, for example, alfords 30c bromo-2B,19-epoxy-l7a-ethynyl-5a-androstan-17 6-01 upon reaction with lithium acetylide in the form of its ethylene diamine complex, the process being conducted in tetrahydrofuran solution at room temperature. Those 17-alkynyl derivatives can be obtained also by reacting the 17-ketone with the appropriate lower alkyne in the presence of an alkaline catalyst such as potassium hydroxide.

A preferred route to the instant 17a-(lower alkyl)- 17fl-hydroxy compounds, wherein the alkyl group constripped of solvent at reduced pressure.

tains more than one carbon atom, involves catalytic hydrogenation of the corresponding 17a-(lower alkynyl)- -17B-ols. Catalysts which may be utilized are typified by palladium-on-carbon, platinum oxide, and Raney nickel. This reduction process is exemplified by the hydrogenation of the above-described 3a-hromo-2B,19- epOXY-17oz-6tl1YDYl-5a-21Ildf05t8jl-1713-01 in ethanol in the presence of 5% palladium-on-carbon catalyst to yield 3a-bromo-2B,19-epoxy-l7u-ethyl-5a-androstan-175-01.

An alternate procedure leading to the instant 17a- (lower alkenyl)-17,8-ols involves partial reduction of the corresponding l7oc-(lOW6I alkynyl) compounds. The preferred catalyst for this purpose is 5% palladium-oncarbon, and the process is suitably conducted in an organic amine solvent such as pyridine. By that procedure, the aforementioned 3a-bromo-2fl,19-epoxy-17a-ethyly1-5aandrostan-17,8-ol, for example, is converted to 3a-bromo- 2B,19-epoxy-l7a-vinyl-5cr-androstan-17,8-01.

An acylation process particularly suitable for the preparation of the instant 176-01 17-(lower alkanoates) which carry a 17-(aliphatic hydrocarbon) substituent involves the use of an isopropenyl ester in the presence of an acidic catalyst. That procedure is exemplified by the reaction of 3ot-brorno-2fi,19-epoxy-17a-methyl-5a-androstan-17p-ol with isopropenyl acetate in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid to afford 3a-bromo-2B,19-epoxy- 17oc-m6thYl-5oc-21IldIOStZ1I1-1713-01 17-acetate.

The compounds of this invention are characterized by valuable pharmacological properties. In particular, they are hormonal and anti-hormonal agents as is evidenced by their anabolic, androgenic, and anti-estrogenic properties.

The invention will appear more fully from the examples which follow. These examples are set forth by way of illustration only, and it will be understood that the invention is not to be construed as limited in spirit or in scope by the details contained therein as many modifications in materials and methods will be apparent from this disclosure to those skilled in the art. In these examples, temperatures are given in degrees centigrade C.) and quantities of materials in parts by weight unless otherwise noted.

Example 1 To a solution of 18.5 parts of 3a-bromo-2B-hydroxy- 5e-androstan-17-one in 1600 parts of carbon tetrachloride is added 67 parts of lead tetraacetate and 25.4 parts of iodine, and the resulting reaction mixture is heated at the reflux temperature for about 8 hours, then is allowed to stand at room temperature for about 16 hours. The mixture is filtered, and the filter cake is washed with methylene chloride. This organic solution is washed successively with 10% aqueous sodium thiosulfate and water, then is dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and The residue is dissolved in a 1:1 hexane-benzene solution, then is chromatographed on a silica gel column. The column is eluted, first with benzene then with benzene containing increasing amounts of ethyl acetate. The 5% ethyl acetate in benzene eluate affords a fraction which, after recrystallization from methanol, results in '3a-bromo-2;8,l9- epoxy-5a-androstan-l7-one, melting at about 130-132". It is characterized further by an optical rotation of +87 in chloroform and also by the structural formula .4 Example 2 The substitution of 16.2 parts of 3a-chloro-2fl-hydroxy- 5ot-androstan-l7-one in the procedure of Example 1 results in a 3u-chloro-2B,19-epoxy-5a-androstan-17-one.

Example 3 By substituting 15.4 parts of 3a-fluoro-2B-hydroxy-5aandrostan-17-one and otherwise proceeding according to the processes described in Example 1, 2fl,19-epoxy-3afiuoro-Sa-androstan-17-one is obtained.

Example 4 OH OCH2 Example 5 The substitution of 1.76 parts of 3a-chloro-2fi,19-epoxy- 5a-androstan-17-0ne in the procedure of Example 4 results in 3a-chloro-2fi,l9-epoxy-5a-androstan-1713-01.

Example 6 The reduction of 1.66 parts of 3a-fluoro-2fl,l9-epoxy- 5a-androstan-17-one by the processes described in Example 4 afiords 25,19-epoxy-3a-fluoro-5a-androstan-17ft- Example 7 A mixture of one part of 3a-bromo-2fi,19-epoxy-5aandrostan-17fi-ol, 2 parts of acetic anhydride, and 20 parts of pyridine is stored at room temperature for about 16 hours, then is poured carefully into a mixture of ice and water. The resulting solid which precipitates is collected by filtration, washed on the filter with water, and dried to afford 3a-bromo-2/3,19-epoxy-5a-androstan- 17,8-01 17-acetate, melting at about 138140 and characterized further by an optical rotation of +20 in I chloroform. This substance can be represented by the structural formula 000C113 OCH2 Example 8 When 2.55 parts of propionic anhydride is substituted for acetic anhydride in the processes described in Example 7, 3a-bromO-ZB,19-epoxy-5a-androstan-17 8-01 17- propionate is obtained.

. Example 9 By substituting 0.88 part of 3a-chloro2/3,19-epoxy-5aandrostan-17B-ol and otherwise proceeding according to the processes described in Example 7, 3a-chloro-2,8,19- epoxy-5a-androstan-176-01 17-acetate is obtained.

Example When 0.83 part of 2B,19-epoxy-3u-fluoro-5u-androstan- 1751-01 is acetylated according to the processes described in Example 7, 2B,l9-epoxy-3a-fluoro-5a-androstan-17 8-01 17-acetate is produced. 1

Example 11" utes, a sticky dark gray material separates, and the ether layer becomes clear .and nearly colorless. At this point an additional quantity of parts by volume of 3 molar ethereal methyl magnesium bromide is added, and this reaction mixture is heated at the reflux temperature for about 16 hours. To the cooled mixture is added 5 parts of solid ammonium chloride, and the resulting mixture is poured intocold Water, then is acidified by the addition of dilute hydrochloric acid. The ether layer is separated, washed several times with Water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate containing decolorizing carbon, then is stripped of solvent at reduced pressure. The resulting White solid residue is recrystallized from aqueous methanol to afford 3oc-'bromo-2;8,-l9-epoxy- 17a-methyl-5a-androstan-175-01, melting at about 174- 175. It displays an optical rotation of +7 in chloroform and is further characterized by the structural formula The reaction of 0.88 part of 3a-chloro-2B,19-epoxy- 5a-androstan-17-0ne with methyl magnesium bromide according to the processes described in Example 11 yields 3a-chloro-2fl,19-epoxy-17a-methy1-5a-androstan-17 8-01.

Example 13 By substituting 0.83 part of 2,8,19-epoxy-3a-fiuoro-M-" androstan-17-one and otherwise proceeding according to the procedure described in Example 11, 219,19-epoxy-3afiuoro-17a-methyl-5a-androstan-17fi-ol is obtained.

Example 14 To a solution of 2.5 parts of a 30% lithium acetylide- 70% ethylene diamine complex in 22 parts of tetrahydrofuran, under nitrogen, is added a solution of one part of 3a-bron1o-2B,l9-epoxy-5 a-androstan-17-one in 8.8 parts of tetrahydrofuran over a period ofabout 5 minutes. The resulting reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for about 2% hours, at the end of which time 2 parts of solid ammonium chloride andapproximately 0.1 part of 25% aqueous tetrahydrofuran are successively added. The resulting mixture is poured into cold Water, and this aqueous mixture is acidified by the addition of dilute hydrochloride acid. The resulting oilis extracted into ether, and. the organic layer is Washed successively with dilute aqueous sodium bicarbonate and water, then is ried over anhydrous sodium sulfate containing decolor-,

izing carbon and is concentrated to an oil at reduced pressure. Crystallization of this oil from aqueous methanol affords 3u-bromo-2B,19-epoxy-17a-ethynyl-5a-androstan-17/3-ol, melting at about 85.90". This substance is characterized also by an optical rotation of -16? in chloroform and by the structural formula By substituting 0.88 part of 3a-chloro-2/3,l9-epoxy-5ecandrostan-17-one and otherwiseproceeding according to the processes described in Example 14, 3a-chlor0-2B,19- epoxy-17a-ethynyl-5a-androstan-17fi-ol is obtained.

a Example 16 The ethynylation of 0.83 part of 2,8,19-epoxy-3 a-fluoro- 5u-androstan-l7-one by the procedure described in Example 14 results in 25,19-epoxy-l7a-ethynyl-3 a-fluoro-5otandrostan-1713-ol.

Example 17 OH ---on=orrg Br H Example 18 acid, and the resulting mixture is heated at the reflux temperature for about 6 hours with intermittent removal of the solven by distillation. To the cooled solution is added approximately 70 parts of ether, and this mixture is washed successively'with water, aqueous sodium carbonate, and water, then is dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and stripped'of solvent at reduced pressure. The

oily residue is crystallized from ethanol to afford pure 3abromo 25,19-epoxy-l7u-methyl-5ot-androstan-17,8-ol 17- acetate.

Example 21 By substituting 21 parts of isopropenyl propionate and otherwise proceeding according to the processes described in Example 20, 3a-bromo-2,8,19-epoxy-17a-methyl-5a-androstan-17/3-ol 17-propionate is obtained.

Example 22 The acetylation of 0.88 part of 3cc-ChlOIO-2B,l9-BPOXY 17e-methyl-5m-androstan-175-01 according to the processes of Example affords 3a-chloro- 2p,19-epoxy-17amethyl-5a-androstan-17/3-ol 17-acetate.

Example 23 The reaction of 0.84 part of 2B,19-epoxy-3u-fluoro-17ctmethyI-Sa-androstan-l7/3-01 with isopropenyl acetate according to the procedure of Example 20 results in 218,19- epoxy-Iiq-fiuoro-17a-methyl-5a-androstan-175-01 17 acetate.

Example 24 To a solution of 1.5 parts of 3a-bromo-2fi,19-epoxy- 17a-ethynyl-5a-androstan-17,8-01 in 20 parts of ethanol is added 0.15 part of 5% pailadium-on-carbon catalyst, and this reaction mixture is shaken in a hydrogen atmosphere at atmospheric pressure and room temperature until 2 molecular equivalents of hydrogen are absorbed. Filtration of this mixture removes the catalyst, which is then washed on the filter with ethanol. The resulting filtrate is concentrated to dryness at reduced pressure, and the residue is crystallized from aqueous ethanol to afford 3abroom-2,6,19-epoxy-17a-ethyl-5a-androstan-175-01.

Example 25 By substituting 1.04 parts of 3a-bromo-2/3,19-epoxy- 17a-ethyl-5a-androstan-175-01 and otherwise proceeding according to the procedure of Example 20, 3u-bromo-2flepoxy-17a-ethyl-5a-androstan-17fi-ol 17-acetate is obtained.

Example 26 A solution of 6 parts of l-butyne and parts of cold ether is added portionwise, in the course of about 30 minutes, to a solution of butyl lithium, which is prepared from 17.3 parts of l-bromobutane and 2.2 parts of lithium wire in 27 parts of ether. After completion of the addition, the rnxture is stirred for about minutes at about 0. To this ethereal solution of outynyl lithium is added, over a period of about 30 minutes, a solution of 12.8 parts of 3a-bromo-Zfi,19-epoxy-5ot-androstan-17- one in parts of tetrahydrofuran. After completion of the addition, the ether is removed by distillation, keeping the volume essentially constant by the addition of tetrahydrofuran. This mixture is heated at the reflux temperature for about 3 hours, then is poured into water, and the resulting aqueous mixture is cooled in an ice ,bath. The resulting oily layer is extracted into ether, and the ethereal solution is washed successively with water ,and saturated aqueous sodium chloride, then is dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and is concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure to afford 3u-bromo-17a-(1-butynyl)-2[3-19-epoxy-5a-androstan-1713-01.

Example 27 The reduction of 2.51 parts of 3e-bromo-17or-(l-butynyl)-2,8,19-epoxy-5a-androstan-17 3-01 according to the procedure described in Example 17 results in 3or-bromo-17a- (l-butenyl) -25,l9-epoxy-5tr-androstan-175-01.

3 What is claimed is: 1. A member selected from the group consisting of compounds of the formulas H and wherein X represents a halogen of atomic weight less than 100, Yis selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and radicals of the formula wherein X represents a halogen of atomic weight less than 100.

4. 3u-bromo-2B,19-epoxy-5u-androstan-l7-one.

5. A compound of the formula wherein X represents a halogen of atomic weight less than 6. 3a-br0mo-2B,19-epoxy-5a-androstan-17,8-01. 7. A compound of the formula :"(lower alkyl) v 1&9 wherein X represents a halogen of atomic Weight less than 10. 3a-bromo-2fl,l9-epoxy-17a-vinyl-5a-androstan-l7 8- 100. 01. V

8. Sa-bromo-ZB,l9-epoxy-17a-methyl-5a-androstan-175- 11. A compound of the formula 01. CH

9. A compound of the formula 5 3 -(lcn7ver alkenyl) OH r O C I (lower alkenyl) wherein X represents a halogen of atomic Weight less X than 100.

- 12v. 3ioc-br0mo-2fl,19 epoxy-17a-ethynyl-5u androstan wherein X represents a halogen of atomic weight less than i 100. No references cited.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,l66 ,553 January 19, 1965 Raymond E. Counsell et al.

It is hereby certified thaterror appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent Should read as corrected below. I

Column 2, line 24, for "2B-19-epoxy" read 26,19-epoxy column 4, line 19, for "of volume by" read by volume of column 7, line 43 for "3ubr0mo-2 read 3dbromo 26 19- line 69 for "26-19" read 2B ,l9 column 10,

lfines 4 to 13, the upper right-hand portion of th'e formula, or

flower alkenyl) 1 read Signed and sealed this 22nd day of June 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNESEW. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A MEMBER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF COMPOUNDS OF THE FORMULAS 2,19-(EPOXY),3-X,17-(O=)-ANDROSTANE WHEREIN X REPRESENTS A HALOGEN OF ATOMIC WEIGHT LESS THAN 100, Y IS SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF HYDROGEN AND RADICALS OF THE FORMULA -CO-(LOWER ALKYL) AND 2,19-(EPOXY),3-X,17-Z,17-(Y-O-)-ANDROSTANE AND Z IS A MEMBER OF THE CLASS CONSISTING OF HYDROGEN AND LOWER ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBON RADICALS. 